Fluid-pressure regulator.



Patented F ||,|9oz.

H. F. SMITH. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATR.

(No Model.)

i @Wittmann nu. s93,|7o.` Patented Feb, ",1902.

` r. sum1. FLUID. PRESSURE` REG ULA'IAllH-.l

v (Application med oec. a1, 1901.) v v (nu nodal.) Y r 2 sheets-sheet z.

TH: Nonms mns co., Puoaurno., wAsmNoTaN. D. c.

UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

HARPER F. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,170, dated February1 1, 1902.

I Application filed October 31, 1901. Serial No. 80,623. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, HARPER F. SMITH, acitizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fluid-Pressure Regulators,of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to 'an improved construction of a duid-pressureregulator or governor'which is capable of a general application, but isespecially adaptedl to be used in conjunction with hydrocarbon-'burnersfor automatically governing the Iiow of the liquid hydrocarbon to theburner, employed.

The invention consists inthe novel construction of the regulator,comprising a suitable casing having an inlet andan outlet for thehydrocarbon or liquid and means for forming al complete seal therein andfor produc-l ing an air-cushion above said'seal under the control ofthehydrocarbon, the air in said chamber 'being compressed by the undulyraised pressure in the reservoir to actuate the controlling-valve.Provision is made for the extinguishment of the burner in case thediaphragm breaks, and means also are provided for adjusting the tensionon said diaphragm as may be desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically dened by theappended claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional low. which is` located thelseal -chamber 4,

which'latter isprovidedy with a drip 5 of any suitable construction. YThe chamber 4 is preferably formed between the base portion 6 and thetop7, the latter havinga projection or projections 8, upon which aremounted the lever 9 bymeans of the pin 10, said le.. n

.Ver having one end of the link 1l connected thereto, while the upperend of said link is connected to the valve-stem 12, which' carries thevalve 13, said valve being adapted to seat downwardly against the seat14, above which is the chamber 15, with which contacts the flange 16,whereby the yalve 13 is guided according to requirements. g

17 designates aclosure for the chamber' 15, and 18 an outlet-pipeleading from said chamber 15.

19 designates a rod having its lower extrem-v ity pivotally connected tothe lever 9, while its upper extremity is engaged with the stern 20,which depends from the head 21, which is capable of free movement ,withrespect to' the base portion22 of Vthe diaphragm-.chamber 23, said baseportion being connected tor `the tube 24, the lower extremity of whichis in engagement with the top 7,` whereby it will be seen that anair-chamber 25 is formed betweenthe chamber f1 and the lower portion 26of the stem 20.

27 designates a flange projecting from theV head and adapted to contactwith an adjacent baseportion of the diaphragm-chamber, whereby thedownward movement of said head 21 is limited according to requirements.28 designates'a stem projecting upwardly from the head 21 and having ator near its eXf tremity the guide 29, which reciprocates in the threadedsleeve 30, which latter. is adapted to engage the' cap 3l of thediaphragmchamber 23. seen in Fig. l, screwed on the sleeve 30 to lockthe same in its adjusted position. 32 designates a spring whoseupperextremity isadapted to abut against the lower wall of the sleeve 30,while the lower extremity 33 o f said spring contacts with the nut 34:,below which are located the diaphragms 35 and 36, the latter having thespacing-block 37 interposed bet-ween them-and itbeing apparent that thelower of saiddiaphragms issuperimposed upon theiiange 37, while theouter edges of said diaphragme are suitably held in position in anydesired oreonvenient manner.

38 desgnatesa vent-pipe leading from the chamber 39 above the upperdiaphragm 35 whereby any undue or excessive pressure can.

A lock-nut 30 is provided, as j be conducted from the diaphragm-chambertothe atmosphere. This pipe, as seen clearly in Fig. 1, is so disposedas to extend outward, so that any escaping hydrocarbon or other liquidescaping above the diaphragm incase of' its breakage will be thrown awayfrom the lamp, so as to avoid all possibility of confiagration or injuryto the lamp.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a rod 19 as connected with the stem 40, whichlatter passes through the lower diaphragm 4l, upon which rests the nut42, against the upper portion of which latter abuts the lower end of thespring 43, the upper extremity of said spring contacting with the nut44, which is in engagement with the partition 45 of the intermediateportion of the easing 46, it being apparent that the stem 40 passesthrough the 11pper diaphragm 47, which latter is held in position withrespect thereto by the jam-nuts 48, it being apparent that the diaphragm47 is of greater area than the lower diaphragm 41, so that in case thelatter is ruptured from any reason the pressure acting upon the upperdiaphragm 47 of larger area will bodily lift the stem 19 against thetension of the spring` 43, and thus cause the regulator-valve, as 13, toimmediately resume its seat. The partition or intermediate portion ofthe diaphragm-casing is provided with perforations 45', as seen in Fig.2. In case the lower diaphragm breaks the pressure exerted on the upperdiaphragm will force it upward, and this acting upon the lever willcause the closing of the valve 13, and the consequent extinguishment ofthe lamp.

It will be understood that the hydrocarbon or other liquid passing intothe governor through the pipe 2 flows into the seal-chamber 4 and isretained therein by the air-cushion contained in the space2, so thatwhen the pressure becomes unduly raised the hydrocarbon from the chamber4 is forced into the air-cushion chamber, which in turn forces the airagainst the under or pressure surface of thelower diaphragm 36 or 41,whereby said diaphragm is raised against the tension of theregulating-spring 32 or 43, said spring being readily regulated, as isevident, whereby the exact tension and resistance desired can beattained. It will be understood that the air passes from the space 25around the sides of the stem 20 and head 21 to the space beneath thediaphragm, the said stem being fitted sufcesare of the diaphragm, sincethe same will not be liable to rot or disintegrate, as it would ifsubjected directly to the action of the oil or hydrocarbon.

In Fig. 3 I have shown my improved governor or regulating device asapplied to a hydrocarbon-burner, the preferred construction of whichforms the subject-matter of a oontemporaneously-pending applicationfiled by me July 1, 1901, Serial No. 66,650; but to the specificfeatures of construction of this burner I have of course herein made noclaim. In the construction seen in Fig. 3 I have shown the regulatingdevice as applied tothe hydrocarbon-burner or vapor-lam p, wherein 61designates the filling device, having the cap 62 for obtaining accessthereto, said filling device communicating with the reservoir 63, fromthe lower portion of which hydrocarbon is conducted to the drip-chamber64, from which leads the pipe 2 to the inlet-port of the regulatingdevice. As has already been explained, the pipe 18 conveys thehydrocarbon from the regulating device to the vaporizing devices 65,which I do not deem it necessary to here describe in detail, since thesame are constructed substantially in accordance with mycontemporaneously-pending application above referred to, it beingunderstood that a portion of the vapor is conveyed from said vaporizingdevices to the pipe (56 to the fitting G7, mounted upon the reservoir63, whereby pressure is exerted upon the top of the hydrocarbon in saidreservoir, aportion of said vapor being reconveyed through the pipe 68to the supergenerator 69 and thence through the pipe 70 tothe desiredportion of the burner 7l. The operation of the burner will be familiarto those skilled in thisart, since it will be apparent that in startingthe lamp suiiicient oil descends by gravity to the generator, so thatwhen the starting device 72 is operated such oil is vaporized and iscarried to the burner and lighted, after which the vapor is generated inthe vaporizing devices 65 by heat from said burner, the supply of oilbeing kept up by the pressure of part of the vapor generated, suchpressure acting through t-he oil or hydrocarbon in the governor tocontrol the supply of oil to the generator. In the last throes of thelamp the vapor entering the inlet-pipe with the hydrocarbon passes outthrough the pipe 1S, because the liquid seal in the lower portion of theregulator will prevent its progress in the direction of the air-chamber,the liquid in the lower portion of the casing forming a perfect sealagainst any vapor that may pass in at the inlet by reason of its beingthe heavier body, and thus the air-cushion is completely shut off fromcommunicationwith the inlet and outlet passages by said seal. Thedrip-chamber is con` nected with the starter by suitable pipe, as seenin Fig. 3, so that the oil therefrom may descend by gravity to feed thestarter for the initial vaporization, after which the vapor is generatedin the vaporizer 65, part of the va- ICO IIO

cearv por being consumed by the lamp andthe other portion passing to thetop of the reservoir through the' pipe 66 'to exert its pressure on.

cially applicable lto vapor-lamps'l do not' limit myself thereto, sincesaid governor is capable of being used in other positions and inconnection with' othermeclianisms, as may be desired. 4

It will be apparent that various changes may be made by those skilled inthe art which may come within the scope of my invention, and Idonot'theret'ore desire to be limited in every instance to the exactconstruction I have herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a Huid-pressure regulator, a diaphragm, a casing below saiddiaphragm, inlet and outlet ports to said casing, a valve intermediatesaid ports above the inlet-port, an air-chamber extended upwardly fromsaid casing, a partial closure for the upper end of said air-chamber, alever pivotally mounted in said casing and connected with the valve, anda connection between said lever and partial closure and movable with thelatter. y

2. In a huid-pressure regulator, a casing, a diaphragm above the same,inlet and outlet ports to the casing upon different levels, a`

valve in said casing intermediate said ports and above the inlet, anair-chamber extended upward from the casing, a liquid seal inv the lowerportion of said casing, a lever pivoted within the said casing andpivotal connections between thelever and valve and diaphragm wherebywhen the diaphragm moves in4 one direction the valve is moved in theopposite direction.

3. In a Huid-pressure regulator, a casing having inlet and outlet portson different levels and a liquid seal in its lower portion, a valve insaid casing above the inlet and intermediate saidv ports, a diaphragmabove said casing, an air-chamber extended'upward from the casing to thediaphragm-chamber, a

reciprocatory partial closure for the upper' end of the air-chamber,movable means within the casing carrying said valve, and a connectionbetween said means andthe said par'- tial closure and located in saidair-chamber to move the diaphragm in one direction as the valve is movedin the opposite direction.'

4. In a Vduid-pressure regulator, a casing,

having inlet and outlet ports upon different levels and the seal-chamberin its lower portion, an air-chamber extended upward from the top of thecasing and seal-chamber and a diaphragm-chamber located above thecasing, a diaphragm in said diaphragm-chamber, a valve in the casingabove theinlet-port and intermediate the said ports, and a connectionbetween the valve and diaphragm 'the-said connection being located insaid seal-'chamber and air-chamber.

5. In a duid-pressure regulator, ay casingA having. inlet and outletports upon different levels, and a seal-chamber in the lower portion ofsaid casing beneath the inlet and outlet, a valve in said casingintermediate said ports, an air-chamber extended upwardly from thecasing above the top of the seal in said casing, and a 'connectionbetween said valve and diaphragm embodyinga partial closure for theupper end of the airfchambel".

6. In a huid-pressure regulator, a casing with a seal-chambertherein,inlet and outlet ports upon dilerent levels upon one side of saidcasing, a valve fitted to a seat betweenv the inlet and outlet above theinlet, a projection from the casing within the seal-chamber, anairchamber extended upward from the top of rsaid casing, a lever pivotedon said projection and pivotally connected with the valve, a partialclosure for the upper end of the air-chamber, a diaphragm-y chambermounted on the upper end of the air-chamber, a diaphragm therein, andconnected with said partial closure, and a connection between saidpartial closure and the'said lever. p

`7. In a fluid-pressure regulator, av casing comprisingrin the onestructure a seal-charn-vv ber, a casing for a valve and a connection foran air-chamber, inlet and outlet ports to said casing upon differentlevels, a valve in said casing above the inlet-port andintermediate thesame and the outlet, a diaphragm-cham ber located above said casing andvalve, the air-chamber connecting the casing and diaphragm-chamber, adiaphragm in the diaphragm-chamber, and a connectionintermediate thediaphragm and seal chamber with the valve.

8. In a fluid-pressure regulator, a casing having inlet and outletports, a valve in said casing above the inlet and intermediate'saidports, a liquid seal in the lower lportion oi' said casing, adiaphragm-chamber,I an airchamber connecting the same with the casing, aplurality of independent diaphragms insaid chamber, means connectingsaiddiaphragin's and serving as a partial closure for the upper end ofthe air-chamber, and a con* nection between said partial closure and thevalve. 9. In a Huid-pressure regulator, the casing having'a liquid seal,and inlet and outlety ports on different levels and a valve in Vsaidcasing above the inlet and intermediatesaid' ports, an air-chamberleading from 'the casing above the seal, a diaphragm-chamber mounted onythe air-chamber above thesaid casing and valve, a plurality ofdiaphragms disposed at a distance apart within said diaphragm-chamber, aconnection between Saidr diaphragms and valve and a vent from `theVspace above the upper diaphragm',andeX- tended away from the same todischarge epscaping liquid hydrocarbon in case of rupture IOO IZO

of the diaphragm and destruction of the airchamber.

lO. In avapor-burner, a reservoir, aburner, a governor intermediate saidburner and reservoir, a valve in said governor and located above theinlet-port of the latter and between the inlet and outlet, a seal in thelower portion of said governor, an air-cushion, disposed above said sealand acting directly thereon, and a connection from said governor to theburner below the air-cushion.

1l. In a vapor-burner, a governor having in its lower portion a liquidseal, a plurality of upwardly-extending members one being adapted tocontain air and the other to contain hydrocarbon, an inlet for thelatter, a valve-seat above said inlet, a discharge-passage above saidvalve-seat, a diaphragmchamber suitably supported, a diaphragm containedwithin said chamber, a rockinglever located in said seal and ulcrumedupon a suitable support, a connection from said valve to said lever onone side of the fulcrum and a connection from said diaphragm to saidlever on the opposite side of its fulcrum, said air-chamber being closedat its upper end.

12. In a vapor-burner, a governor having in its lower portion a liquidseal, a plurality of upwardly-extending members closed at their upperends, one being adapted to contain air and the other to containhydrocarbon, an inlet-port for the latter, a valve-seat above saidinlet-port, a discharge-passage above said valve-seat, adiaphragm-chamber suitably supported, a rocking lever, a diaphragm,connection from said valve to said lever on one side of its fulcrum anda connection from said diaphragm to saidV lever on the opposite side ofits fulcrum, in combination with an extension on the upper portion ofsaid diaphragm-chamber, a tension device located within said extensionand means for adjusting said tension device.

13. In a vapor-burner, a governor having in its lower portion a liquidseal, a plurality of upwardly-extending members one being adapted tocontain air and the other to contain hydrocarbon, an inlet-port for thelatter, a valve-seat above said inletport,a dischargepassage above saidvalve-seat, a diaphragmchamber suitably supported, a diaphragm containedwithin said chamber, a rocking lever in said seal-chamber and fulcrumedon a suitable support, a connection from said valve to said level' onone side of its fulcrum, and a connection from said diaphragm to saidlever on the opposite side of its fulcrum, in combination with anextension on said diaphragm-chamber, a hollow nut adjustably Vsecured inthe upper portion of said eXtension, an inner extension adapted to mov'ein unison with said diaphragm and guided Within said nut, and a springintermediate said diaphragm and nut and guidedin said extension of thechamber.

14. The combination of a reservoir for hydrocarbon, a drip-chamber intowhich said reservoir discharges, a governor adapted to receive thehydrocarbon from said drip-chamber, an inlet-port for said governor, adischarge-port for the latter, a Valve intermediate said inlet-port anddischarge-port adapted to seat downwardly, a seal in the lower portionof said governor, an air-cushion above said seal, vaporizin g devices towhich the hydrocarbonis conducted from said governor, a burner, and apipe leading from said vaporizing devices to said burner.

l5. In a fluid-pressure regulator,a governor'- casing having a liquidseal in its lower portion and a plurality of upwardly-extending membersone being adapted to contain air and the other to contain hydrocarbon,an inlet-port and an ou tlet-port to said casing upon different levelsand the valve above the inlet and intermediate the inlet and outlet, anairchamber connected with one of said members, and extended upwardlytherefrom, a diaphragm-chamber mounted on the upper end of theair-chamber above the said casing and valve,a diaphragm in said chambermeans for varying the tension on said diaphragm and a connection betweenthe diaphragm and the valve.

16. In aiiuid-pressure regulator, agovernor having in its lower portiona liquid seal, a plurality of upwardly-extending members, one beingadapted to contain air and the other to contain hydrocarbon, aninlet-port for the latter, a valve-seat above said inlet-port,adischarge-passage above said valve-seat, a diaphragm-chamber supportedabove said governor and valve,a plurality of diaphragms contained withinsaid chamber, means foradjusting the tension on said diaphragms, arocking lever in the seal-chamber, a connection upon one side thereofwith the valve anda connection upon the other side of the fulcrum of thelever with the diaphragms, said connection passing through theair-chamber.

17. In a Huid-pressure regulator, a casing having a hydrocarbon seal inits lower portion, inlet and outlet ports therefor upon dit'- ferentlevels, a valve controlling one of said ports and fitted to a seatintermediate said ports, said valve being located above the inlet, anair-chamber connected with the casing at a higher level than the inlet,a partial closure for the upper end ot' the air-chamber, adiaphragm-chamber,a diaphragm therein movable with said partial closureand a connection between said partial closure and valve.

1S. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of a casing forming aliquid seal in its lower portion, inletand outlet ports for saidcasingupon different levels, a valve for controlling the flow betweenthe inlet and outlet, located above the inlet and between the inlet andoutlet, an air-chamber at a higher level than said valve and connectedwith the casing, the air in said air-chamber being con- IIO l the inletand outlet bothbeing iu communication with said seal-chamber.

19. In a fluid-pressure regulator, a casing witha liquid-seal chamber inits lower portion, inlet and outlet ports for said casing upon diiferentlevels, a Valve for controlling the flow between both of said ports,located above the inlet and intermediate the inlet and outlet, anair-chamber communicating with and extended above the said casin g andvalve,

the connection with the casing being above the seal-chamber and abovet-he highest level of the seal and shut od from communication with theinlet and outlet ports by said seal.

20. In a Huid-pressureA regulator, a casing having upwardly-extendingmembers upon opposite sides of a liquidseal in the lower portion of saidcasing, inlet and outlet ports, the inlet-port communicating directlywith said seal, a valve located above the inlet and intermediate theinlet and outlet, and an air-chamber connected directly with one of saidmembers and extended upwardly therefrom.

2l. In a Huid-pressure regulator, a casing having vupwardly-extendingmembers upon opposite sides of a liquid seal in the lower portionthereof, inlet and outlet ports communieating with said seal upondifferent levels through one of said members, a valve in said memberabove the inlet-port and intermediate the two ports, and an air-chamberextended upwardly from the other member and'supporting adiaphragm-chamber, and a diaphragm iu saidvcha'mber connected with saidvalve.

22. In a fluid-pressure regulator, a casing having a liquid seal in itslower portion and upwardly-extending members from opposite sidesthereof, inlet and outlet ports, the inlet-port communicating directlywith vsaid seal upon different levels upon the same side of the casing,a valve intermediate the two ports and above the inlet, an air-chambercon-` nected with the member upon the opposite side of` the casing, arocking lever in the sealchamber and a diaphragm connected with the saidlever whereby the movement of the diaphragm in onedirection moves thevalve in the opposite direction to control the ow between both of saidports.

23. In a fluid-pressure regulator, a casing having top and bottomportions, the former being formed with independent upwardly-extendingmembers, and-the latter with a sealchamber in communication with both ofsaid Y members, inlet and outlet ports communicating with one of saidmembers, Va valve-seat in said member intermediatesaid ports, a

valve located above the inlet and fitted to said seat, and anair-chamber extended upl HARPER F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, SADIE R'. CARR.

